Throughout history, some crimes have remained forever concealed in mystery, leaving behind more questions than answers. These chilling cases aren’t just infamous, they’re among the biggest unsolved crimes in history and are still fueling theories, documentaries, and Reddit threads to this day.
10. The Boy in the Box (Philadelphia, USA)
In 1957, the body of a young boy was found in a cardboard box and wrapped in a blanket. He had no identity, no missing person report, and no one ever came forward. Only recently has DNA helped identify him as Joseph Augustus Zarelli, but his killer remains unknown.
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9. Jill Dando (London, UK)
BBC journalist and TV presenter Jill Dando was shot outside her home in a professional-style hit. Despite one man being arrested, the case was later dropped due to a lack of evidence. Since 1999, it has remained one of Britain’s biggest unsolved crimes in history.
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8. The Hinterkaifeck Murders (Germany)
At a rural German farm in 1922, an entire family was slaughtered with a pickaxe. Creepy details emerged, like the killer supposedly living on the property and feeding their livestock for days after the murders. Neighbors had also reported odd noises and footprints in the snow leading to the house. Despite a century of speculation, no one was ever charged.
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7. The Villisca Axe Murders (Iowa, USA)
Eight people, including six children, were brutally murdered in their sleep with an axe. The killer allegedly stayed in the house afterward, covering mirrors and preparing breakfast. However, no fingerprints, no motive, and no conviction have been concluded. Even now, paranormal investigators and amateur sleuths visit the house looking for the answers lost in 1912.
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6. The Princes in the Tower (1483, England)
In 1483, after their father, King Edward IV, died, young Edward V and his brother Richard were taken to the Tower of London for their protection. However, they were never seen again. Many suspect their uncle, Richard III, had killed them to secure the throne, but no evidence has proven foul play. It’s a case that still unsettles royal history.
5. The Isdal Woman (Norway)
A charred body found in 1970 in Norway’s “Death Valley” led to a web of international intrigue. The victim had multiple fake passports and suitcases filled with wigs, suggesting espionage. The woman’s cause of death was officially ruled suicide, but suspicious clues, including military-grade sleeping pills and signs she may have followed, suggest otherwise. To this day, her identity remains one of the biggest unsolved crimes in history.
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4. Jack the Ripper (London, UK)
In the streets of Victorian London, Jack the Ripper murdered at least five women, all sex workers, in the Whitechapel district. The brutal precision of the killings led many to believe he had medical knowledge. Other theories about his identity have ranged from an artist to a member of the royal family, but none have ever been confirmed. His 1888 legacy still lingers in pop culture and modern criminal studies.
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3. The Black Dahlia Murder (Los Angeles, USA)
In 1947, Elizabeth Short’s body was discovered mutilated and posed in a vacant lot, and the media named her “The Black Dahlia.” The press sensationalized the case and turned it into a nationwide media frenzy. With dozens of suspects and no clear motive, the case became one of Los Angeles’s biggest unsolved crimes in history.
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2. The Disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa (Michigan, USA)
One of the most powerful labor leaders in America, Jimmy Hoffa, disappeared in 1975 from a parking lot in broad daylight. Though there have been various theories, ranging from mafia involvement to covert government action, his body has never been found.
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1. The Zodiac Killer (California, USA)
In the late 1960s, the Zodiac Killer taunted California law enforcement with letters, ciphers, and unsolved murders. While five victims are confirmed, he is said to have claimed many more. Despite decades of investigation, his identity remains unknown, and several of his cryptograms still haven’t been cracked.
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